Carbon supply control for manifolding typewriters



Dec. 30, 1952 A. A. JOHNSON 2,623,523

CARBON SUPPLY CONTROL FOR MANIFOLDING TYPEWRITERS Filed Aug. 25, 1948 I JNVENTOR. Art 7111/ j]. \/0/7/7. 0/1

ATTORNEY-Y Patented Dec. 39, 1952 CARBON SUPPLY CONTROL FOR MANI- roLnING TYPEWRITERS Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Comm, assignor to Columbia Ribbon and Carbon Manufactm ing Company, Inc., Glen Cove, N. Y'., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1948,, Serial No. 46,090

12 Claims. (Cl. 197-426) This invention relates tocontinuous-form manifolding" typewriters, and more particularly to supplying carbon paper therefor from which ,thesame may be withdrawn as needed.

t is an object of my invention to provide a holder which can accommodate a flat carbon supply of the type which can be used either with separate superposed record strips, or with connected, fan-folded record strips.

A further object ofmy invention is to provide a holder and carbon supply combination of a character such that the carbon paper may be constrained and guided by a folded side of the supplypackage to present itself in proper alignment and without danger of dam-age to the carbon Web;

Another object of my invention is to provide a carbon holder designed to expedite the carbon changing operation, but which is, at the same time;.extremely' simple in structure and inexpensive tomanuf'acture.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is a feature of my invention to provide, in an un usually simple manner, a hand tab for grasping and supporting the carbon holder during the carbon-changing operation, and which oifers substantial assistance from the! standpoint of guarding against interference with the carbontinuous formi manifolding typewriter, primarily the. carriage thereof, and illustrating my improved carbon and' bolder assembly in position thereon.

2 is afragmentary perspective of a. portion of thecarbon carrying. and. shifting frame of the carriage of. Fig. 1. showing my improved carbonpack and holder in place thereon; I

Fig. 3 is. an enlarged sectionof my improved carbon holder: and carbon supply assembly Showv ing. themanner of attachingv the same to its upporting, arm;

. Fig. 4. is a; perspective view of my improved carbon holder.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of one form of carbon supply used in combination with my improvediholcier;

Fig 6 is a partial sectionof myimprovedl carbomholder'and showing; anotherrform of carbon supply positioned therein.

, 1 of the drawing, illustratesportions. of. the

carbon-shifting carriage of a continuous-form manifolding typewriter of a well-known type, including a platen l0 around which the continuous writing strips and carbon sheets are drawn for inscription by the type-bars l2 ofthe typewriter. The dotted circle 10a indicates the position to which the platen l0 may be moved for the purpose of straightening the path of the writing strips and carbons to permit withdrawing the carbons after typing of the writing strips or forms has been completed.- The carriage also includes the sloping paper table [4- which leads the superposed record strips l6 and the interieaved carbons into the nip of the platen feed.

Connected to and movable with the typewriter carriage which carriesthe platen Hi and table M, is the usual auxiliary strip-supporting and carbon carriage frame l8 which has slidably mounted thereon for movement towards and away from the platen, the carbon shifting carflags-20;

'lhe carriage 20 carries a plurality of: transverse arms 22 each of which is adapted to extend between a pair of the record strips. l6 and support an interposed. carbon or: transfer element. The arms 22 may be supported at both ends on frame It when separate record strips are to be handled; or may be supported atone end only as shown in Fig. 2.. When the arms 22 are sup ported in the latter. fashion and extend alternately from. each side of the frame, either separaterecordstrips or connected, fan-folded forms maybe employed. If desired, the arms 22 may also be provided with pivoted clamps 24 (Fig; 2) for attaching thereto the leader or holder for the transfer or carbon element. The carriage 20 also hasthereon a forwardly extending operating arm 26 which projects to a position near the platen andprovidesameans whereby the operator may conveniently retract the carriage to shift the carbons from a completed set of forms to those which are about to be typed.

My invention is concerned with the assembly which includes the carbon paper supply and the holding; means; therefor designated in the drawing by the character 30 or 30a. The number of these assemblies required is one, less than the recordstrips to be used; and each is mounted on one of the: arms 22 and extendstherefrom towardsxthe typewriter platen 10 between a-pair of the. record strips 5. In Fig. 2 the record strips 2.6 have been omitted for the purpose of clarity, butis to be understood that one such strip would pass between the arms 22 and the assemblies 30, and that another air'of. record strips would pass above and below the arms and assemblies shown.

The assembly of my invention, which in the form presently preferred is designated by the numeral 30, is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This assembly 30 consists of a holder 32, shown in perspective in Fig. 4, having a portion 34 forming a leader or connecting strip and a portion 36 which provides a pocket for receiving a carbon supply 46. As will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the pocket 33 is made shallow enough to expose a portion of the folded carbon supply used therewith for reasons to be hereinafter explained.

The holder 32 may be constructed of paper, fabric or any suitable material which is light and flexible and otherwise suited for positioning between and supporting on record strips 22. Preferably the same may be constructed of a durable grade of paper cut in such a way as to provide flaps 3! and 38. The pocket 35 is formed by folding the side flaps 31 towards each other and closing the end by folding up and adhering the flap 38. For a purpose to be hereinafter described, it is also desirable to provide a relatively stiff tab which extends beyond the closed end of pocket 36. One convenient construction which provides such a tab is arrived at by adhering together the inner surfaces near the bottom of the pocket formed by closing flaps 31 and 38, thus spacing the bottom of pocket 36 from the end of the sheet by the width of tab portion 39.

The folded carbon supply 40 is formed by winding a strip of carbon paper 42 on a flat, relatively stiff paper or cardboard core or support 44 to provide a flat roll or bolt. In this way a, substantial supply of carbon can be stored in a restricted space and still be suitable for positioning between the superposed strips of a continuous manifold set.

In using the device of my invention, the holder 32 is suitably attached to one of the arms 22, for example by folding the leader end 34 thereof over the arm 22 and clamping the same in place with the corresponding clamp 24. The carbon supply 40 is unwound to an extent sufficient to provide .a free end which will reach the platen when the carriage 20 is in retracted position and then is slipped into the pocket 36 of the holder 32 with the free end coming from the back as shown, and overlying the outside surface of the pocket. When a plurality of such assemblies have been installed and the record sheets [6 arranged between them, the superposed ends may be introduced under the platen I and the forms typed in the usual manner.

After the holders 32 have been finally adjusted for correct parallel position of the carbons extending therefrom with the record strips l6, either by rearranging the connection of the leaders 34 with the arms 22, or by angularly adjusting the arms 22 in a known manner, the adjustment will be substantially permanent for the life of the holder. The reason for this is that the carbon, instead of being guided over the edge of the pocket 36, is directed by its own folds, so that any wear or damage affecting the edge of the pocket leaves the carbon direction unaltered. It will be seen that when a true parallel setting of the holder 32 has once been achieved, the bottom of pocket 36 is then perpendicular to the path of travel of strips l6. Furthermore, a supply of carbon paper in order to be properly packaged in a bolt such as 40 must have its folds truly perpendicular to the ends of the package and parallel to each other. Thus, any such package which is thereafter inserted in the holder 32 will lead in a true parallel direction therefrom, without further adjustment. Furthermore, the fact that the carbon strip 42 is required to lead only over an edge which is formed by a part of its own package, materially reduces the chance for accidental damage to the carbon strip by eliminating those tears which might occur due to relative movement between the supply package 40 and a guiding edge formed on the holder, for example the edge of the pocket 36. The advantage of this construction will be appreciated when it is considered that the operation of carbon-changing by retraction of the shifting carriage 20 causes the carbon guiding edge, wherever located, to be forced against a portion of the strip 42, and if the same is carried out in a rapid manner, the carbon supply may exhibit a considerable inertia effect tending to cause movement thereof relative to the holder. Should the carbon guiding edge be formed as a portion of the holder rather than an edge of the supply itself, this tendency to relative movement is very apt to damage the carbon strip. The relative dimensions and positioning of the carbon supply and holder pocket which result in the improved character of operation are accordingly important features of my invention.

When the end of the carbon strips 42 which are being used in the manifolding operation have be.- come worn so as to be no longer useful, they may be changed in a simple and expeditious manner now to be described. After the used ends of the carbon strips have been torn off in the usual manner, the operator moves the carriage 20 towards the platen to provide slack in carbon strips 42. The tab 39 of one of the holders 32 is then grasped by one hand to hold the same against movement. The other hand is used to engage the supply 43 by one of its projecting corners, to flip the same over the number of times required to unwind a new desired length of carbon, and to slip the supply 40 pack into the pocket 36. When fan-folded rec- 0rd strips are being utilized, the supply 40 must of course be displaced laterally of the set before unwinding can take place.

It should be noted at this point that the positioning of the tab 39 for ready grasping by the operator not only serves its immediate purpose, but further provides a location where a firm grip may be taken on the holder 32 near the pocket 36 without the danger of squeezing the pocket in such a way as to inhibit the removal of the carbon supply 40.

A modification of the folded carbon supply which may be used in connection with my invention is illustrated in Fig. 6 and designated by the character 40a. A support 44a of the desired width is provided and one end of a carbon strip 42 is attached thereto, preferably by adhesive. The strip is folded in zig-zag fashion so that the folds lie side-by-side with the support 44a at one end of the stack and substantially coextensive with one face thereof. The supply 40a is positioned in the pocket 36 of holder 32 with the support 44a towards the front and the carbon strip leading from the back as shown in Fig. 6. The edge of support 44a and the carbon folds are thus capable of serving in'a parallel-guiding capacity similar to the folded edges of the supply 40 described above.

When carbon-changing is to be effected with the supply 40a, it is only necessary to grasp the tab 39 with one hand, insert an instrument, for example a pencil, in the loop of carbon located near the mouth of the pocket 32, and, by a light pressure in a direction away from the typewriter platen, withdraw the next two layers (ormu'ltiples thereof) of carbon. strip from the. pocket.

While. the supply 4.0a. offers. some practical ad vantagesover the. supply 40111111015 requiringtthat slack be provided, that the. supply be removed from. the pocket for changing, nor that it'be laterally displaced. in. fanf.old operations; the expense involved in. its production at present is enough more than that for the supply 40 to offset these features somewhat, with the result: that the form of the invention initially described and using the supply 40 is at present preferred.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A. holder for a fiat-folded carbon paper strip supply having dimensions one of which is determined by the width of the strip and the other by the fold length, comprising a leader strip substantially equal in width to said carbon paper strip and having at one end thereof a pocket the full width of said leader strip and shallower than said fold length, and opening towards the other end of said leader strip, said pocket constituting the sole mean on said holder for maintaining any part of a carbon supply carried thereby against displacement therefrom.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 and including a projecting tab adjacent said pocket and extending substantially in the plane of said strip, said tab having a width sufficient for ready grasping by the operators fingers without encroachment upon the pocket or pinching of its contents during tab use.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 and including a tab extending from and beyond the bottom of said pocket substantially in the plane of said strip, said tab having a width sufiicient for ready grasping by the operator's fingers without encroachment upon the pocket or pinching of its contents during tab use.

4. A holder for a supply of carbon paper, said holder consisting of a cruciform blank of flexible fabric having four arm elements and a central body element, three arm elements of which have been folded inwardly towards said body element and connected to form a pocket the opening of which is directed towards the fourth arm element, said fourth arm element having a length substantially greater than the depth of said pocket and constituting means for attaching the device to the carbon holding arm of a manifolding typewriter, the arm element opposite said fourth arm element having a portion of its inner surface adhered to the body element adjacent their connection and near the bottom of said pocket to form a relatively stiff tab projecting beyond the pocket bottom.

5. A transfer assembly for manifolding typewriters including a holder comprising a strip of flexible fabric having a closed-bottom pocket at one end opening towards the other; and a flat package of folded transfer strip in said pocket having a fold length greater than the depth of said pocket and having its free end leading out of the pocket from that surface of said package which is adjacent the flexible fabric.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the package of transfer strip comprises a fiat core having a strip of carbon paper wound thereon.

'7. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the package of transfer strip comprises a zig-zag folded strip of carbon paper.

8; An. assembly as: claimed in claim. 5. wherein said holder includes a tab located adjacent said pocket and extending substantially in therplanedefined by the remainder of the holder.

9. A transfer material supply package comprising a strip of carbon paper zig-zag folded to form a flat package, and a flat relatively stiff support and guide member substantially coextensive with. asurfacev of said package attached to the end of said strip, said member constituting the sole carbon strip supporting, protecting and controlling means. connected with said package.

10. The method of providing for the renewal of carbon paper in a continuous manifolding process using a manifolding typewriter with a platen and transverse carbon supporting arms at the rear thereof, which includes the steps of providing a relatively flat holder having a pocket and an attaching strip towards which said pocket opens; connecting said attaching strip to one of said arms with said pocket opening away from said platen; providing a flat supply package of carbon paper strip, broader in the direction of strip length than the depth of the pocket; and placing said package in said pocket with one transverse edge exposed and with the free end of the carbon strip leading out of the pocket and off from that surface of the package adjacent the holder attaching strip, in a loop embracing the exposed transverse edge of the package, and then towards the platen.

11. The method of providing for the renewal of carbon paper in a continuous manifolding process using a manifolding typewriter with a platen and transverse carbon supporting arms at the rear thereof, which includes the steps of providing a relatively flat holder having a pocket and an attaching strip towards which said pocket opens; connecting said attaching strip to one of said arms with said pocket opening away from said platen; providing a fiat, wound supply package of carbon paper strip, broader in the direction of strip length than the depth of the pocket: placing said package in said pocket with one transverse edge exposed and with the free end of the carbon strip leading out of the pocket and 01? from that surface of the package adjacent the holder attaching strip, in a loop embracing the exposed transverse edge of the package, and then towards the platen; periodically withdrawing said package from the pocket; rotating the package about its axis to unwind a length of carbon strip therefrom; and replacing the packag in said pocket.

12. The method of providing for the renewal of carbon paper in a continuous manifolding process using a manifolding typewriter with a platen and transverse carbon supporting arms at the rear thereof, which includes the steps of providing a relatively flat holder having a pocket and an attaching strip towards which said pocket opens; connecting said attaching strip to one of said arms with said pocket opening away from said platen; providing a flat, zig-zag folded supply package of carbon paper strip, broader in the direction of strip length than the depth of the pocket; placing said package in said pocket with one transverse edge exposed and with the free end of the carbon strip leading out of the pocket and off from that surface of the package adjacent the holder attaching strip, in a loop embracing the exposed transverse edge of the package, and then towards the platen; periodically engaging the looped portion of the carbon strip lead-off end embracing the exposed edge of the 7 package; and then urging the same away from Number the platen to withdraw two fold lengths from the 2,236,155 package. 2,292,343 ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 2,343,796 5 2,363,661 REFERENCES CITED 2 337 7 -The following references are of record in the 2,441,622 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date .050 Carpenter Oct. 16, 1928 Name Date" Petit Mar. 25, 1941 McAlvin Aug, 4, 1942 Petit Mar. 7, 1944 Feitl' Nov, 28, 1944 Leibfritz Oct. 23, 1945 Doyle May 18, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 1 Denmark Aug. 15, 1932 

